Concrete Transfer Shovel

ABSTRACT

A concrete transfer shovel that makes pouring concrete easier and more efficient that comprises a closed grip at the one end, a handle, and a shovel blade at the other end. The shovel blade comprises partially raised sides and two recesses. The raised sides and the two recesses are specifically sized and positioned for the efficient transfer of concrete and movement of wire mesh by a user without the use of protrusions that could mar the surface of the concrete and collect concrete and debris.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a hand shovel for the transferring and pouring of concrete.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the installation of concrete, shovels are often used to transfer wet concrete to the correct location where it is to dry. New and improved shovels that make this job more efficient and easier are needed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A new and useful concrete, cement, or other similar material (collectively referred to herein as “concrete”) transfer shovel is provided by embodiments of this invention. The preferred embodiments are about 50 to about 54 inches in total length with a closed grip (i.e., with a D shaped grip) at the end. Certain other embodiments have a T shaped grip at the end of the handle. The preferred embodiments of the transfer shovel provide a shovel blade that is of generally a rectangular shape, and approximately a generally square shape, that has a flat surface in its middle portion. These embodiments of the shovel blade also have partially raised sides, at about a 30 degree to about a 60 degree angle from the flat surface of the shovel blade in the middle portion of the sides of the shovel blade, to retain a useful amount of concrete on the shovel blade. The preferred embodiments also have an angled recess on each side of the shovel blade, about 1½ inches to about 2½ inches from the bottom edge of the shovel blade, that are about ¾ of an inch to about 1¼ of an inch deep, and about ⅜ of an inch to about ⅝ of an inch wide, to catch, lift, position, and/or pull the wire mesh while pouring the concrete, without the recess otherwise impeding the use of the shovel and its use to move the concrete smoothly and efficiently and without marring the concrete surface.

Advantages of this invention will be readily apparent to a person of skill in the art. The shape of the transfer shovel is efficient in the moving and pouring of concrete and to avoid the user from becoming overly and/or unnecessarily tired in its use. The partially raised sides of the shovel blade also retain a useful amount of concrete on the shovel blade to make the transfer and moving of concrete more efficient. The length of the transfer shovel is important to avoid unnecessary bending by the user and to make the shovel easier to use with the concrete and wire mesh. The recess on each side of the shovel that is capable of engaging the wire mesh to move it while pouring concrete (e.g., lift it off the bottom of the pour into the middle of the pour) make the process more efficient because the user can use just one tool for the job and efficiently and easily move the wire mesh to the desired position with respect to the concrete from either side of the shovel. The recess will also not mar the surface of the concrete, or collect concrete or debris, in the manner in which a protrusion on the surface of the shovel blade could.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective drawing of an embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a front perspective drawing of a shovel blade of an embodiment of this invention. The broken lines represent that the handle of the shovel continues on and is not shown completely in this figure.

FIG. 3 is a front perspective drawing of a portion of a shovel blade of an embodiment of this invention, showing one of the two recesses on the side of the shovel blade. The broken lines represent that the shovel blade continues on and is not shown completely in this figure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This invention provides a new and useful concrete transfer shovel that makes pouring concrete easier and more efficient. The transfer shovel comprises a gripping portion (D or T shaped) at the one end, a handle, and a shovel blade at the other end. The shovel blade comprises partially raised sides and two recesses. The raised sides and the two recesses are specifically sized and positioned for the efficient transfer of concrete and the movement of wire mesh by a user.

The preferred embodiments of this invention are about 50 to about 54 inches in total length (most preferably about 52 inches) with a closed grip at the end. This length and the closed grip are important to permit efficient use of the shovel and to avoid fatigue. For example, the closed grip helps the user push and pull wire mesh into a desired position. FIG. 1 shows an example of a transfer shovel 10 of this invention, with a closed grip 11, a handle 20, a shovel blade 30, two bends in the sides of the shovel blade 31 32, a bottom edge 50 of the shovel blade, and a recess on each of the sides of the shovel blade 41 42. Other embodiments have a T shaped grip at the end of the handle.

The preferred embodiments of this invention also provide a shovel blade that is of generally a rectangular shape, and generally a square shape. FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show such a preferred shape of a shovel blade 30. While the shape is neither perfectly rectangular nor perfectly square in some embodiments (although it can be), it is generally rectangular or, specifically, generally square, which aids in its use to transfer concrete. “Generally rectangular” and “generally square” is used to mean that the four sides of the shovel blade are not more than about 25% larger than one another and the angles of the four sides are between about 80% and about 105%.

These preferred embodiments also have partially raised sides, at about a 30 degree to about a 60 degree angle in the middle portion of the sides of the shovel blade from the flat surface of the shovel blade, and most preferably at about a 30 degree angle in the middle portion of the shovel blade, to retain a useful amount of concrete on the shovel blade. FIG. 1 , FIG. 2 , and FIG. 3 show an embodiment with these raised sides, which shows the curved lines where there are bends 31 32 in the shovel blade on each side, from one end of the shovel blade to the other.

The preferred embodiments of this invention also have a recess on each side of the shovel blade near the bottom edge of the shovel blade, that each are sized to catch and/or retain wire mesh so that it can be pushed and pulled into position. In the most preferred embodiments, each of these recesses are cut out, or otherwise recessed, indented, or missing portions, of the shovel blade, and they are about 1½ inches to about 2½ inches from the bottom edge of the shovel blade, about ¾ of an inch to about 1¼ of an inch deep, and about ⅜ of an inch to about ⅝ of an inch wide, to catch, lift, position, and/or pull the wire mesh while pouring the concrete. Each recess is at about a 40 degree to about a 50 degree angle, and most preferably at about a 45 degree angle, from the side of the shovel blade, this acute angle facing towards the bottom edge of the shovel blade. These embodiments of the recesses 41 and 42 and these angles are shown in FIG. 1 , FIG. 2 , and FIG. 3 , in relation to the bottom edge 50 of the shovel blade 30.

It is critical that each of these recesses can be used to catch, lift, position, and/or pull the wire mesh without otherwise impeding the use of the shovel to move concrete. The recesses of this invention should not protrude from the front or rear surface of the shovel blade. They should also not protrude from the side of the shovel blade, but instead form a recess to catch the wire mesh. Thus, the use of added on plates, hooks, screws, bolts, and other protrusions can impede the flow of concrete on and off the shovel, cause scratches and undesired marks on the concrete surface, and otherwise lead to undesired build-up of concrete and other material if not removed immediately, and thus such protrusions are not consistent with this invention.

The most preferred embodiments of this invention comprise a concrete transfer shovel having a handle end and a shovel blade end. The length of the shovel is about 50 inches to about 54 inches from the handle end to the shovel blade end. The shovel of these embodiments also comprises (a) a closed grip on the handle end; and (b) a handle connecting the closed grip with a shovel blade, the shovel blade being on the shovel blade end of the shovel. Certain other embodiments have a T shaped grip at the end of the handle.

The shovel blade of the shovel of these embodiments comprises (i) a generally rectangular shape, (ii) a bottom edge, (iii) a flat surface at the middle portion of the shovel blade, (iv) two sides of the shovel blade, each side having a portion bent at an angle in the middle of each side of about 30 degrees to about 60 degrees from the flat surface of the shovel blade, and each side having a single recess that is capable of catching a wire mesh, each recess being about 1½ inches to about 2½ inches from the bottom edge of the shovel blade, each recess being about ¾ of an inch to about 1¼ of an inch deep, each recess being about ⅜ of an inch to about ⅝ of an inch wide and set at an angle of about 40 degrees to about 50 degrees from the side of the shovel blade, said angle pointed towards the bottom edge of the shovel blade.

The shovel blade of these embodiments is capable of catching the wire mesh with at least one recess on one side of the shovel blade and without the use of any protrusions on the shovel blade that could mar the concrete surface or collect concrete or debris.

The most preferred embodiments of this invention also include a method for pouring wet concrete over a wire mesh. This method includes (a) moving the wet concrete into place over the wire mesh in part with a concrete transfer shovel having a length of about 50 inches to about 54 inches, the shovel having a handle end and a shovel blade end, the shovel further comprising a closed grip on the handle end, a handle connecting the closed grip with a shovel blade, the shovel blade being on the shovel blade end of the shovel and having (i) a generally rectangular shape, (ii) a bottom edge, (iii) a flat surface at the middle portion of the shovel blade, (iv) two sides of the shovel blade, each side having a portion bent at an angle in the middle of each side of about 30 degrees to about 60 degrees from the flat surface of the shovel blade; (v) wherein the two sides assist in retaining concrete on the shovel blade while it is being used to move the wet concrete. Certain other embodiments have a T shaped grip at the end of the handle.

The method of these embodiments also includes (b) catching, lifting, positioning, and/or pulling the wire mesh with at least one of two recesses, each recess being on a side of the shovel blade, each recess being about 1½ inches to about 2½ inches from the bottom edge of the shovel blade, each recess being about ¾ of an inch to about 1¼ of an inch deep, each recess being about ⅜ of an inch to about ⅝ of an inch wide and set at an angle of about 40 degrees to about 50 degrees from the side of the shovel blade, said angle pointed towards the bottom edge of the shovel blade.

In this method of these embodiments, the moving the wet concrete and the catching, lifting, positioning, and/or pulling the wire mesh is done without the shovel blade of the concrete transfer shovel having any protrusions that mar the surface of the concrete or collect concrete or debris.

The subject matter of this disclosure is now described with reference to the following example. This example is provided for the purpose of illustration only, and the subject matter is not limited to this example, but rather encompasses all variations, which are evident as a result of the teaching provided herein.

Example

An example of a concrete transfer shovel of this invention is about 52 inches in length from the bottom edge of the generally rectangular or square shovel blade to the opposite end. It is shown in FIG. 1 , FIG. 2 , and FIG. 3 . On the opposite end from the shovel blade bottom edge 50 attached to the handle 20 (and/or terminating the handle) is a closed grip 11 to make the shovel easier to handle, especially when positioning wet concrete and wire mesh. Alternative embodiments have a T shaped grip on the end of the handle. The shovel blade 30 has raised and or bent sides 31 32, at about a 30 degree angle from the middle of the flat surface of the shovel blade in this example in the middle portion of each side, to retain concrete on the shovel blade 30. A recess 41 42 is placed on each side of the shovel blade 30 to engage wire mesh used with poured concrete. The recesses 41 42 in this example are about 2 inches from the bottom edge 50 of the shovel blade 30 and they are about ½ inch wide and about 1 inch deep.

Other Embodiments

Although the present invention has been described with reference to teaching, examples and preferred embodiments, one skilled in the art can easily ascertain its essential characteristics, and without departing from the spirit and scope thereof can make various changes and modifications of the invention to adapt it to various usages and conditions. Those skilled in the art will recognize or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific embodiments of the invention described herein. Such equivalents are encompassed by the scope of the present invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A concrete transfer shovel having a handle end and a shovel blade end, the shovel further comprising: (a) a gripping portion on the handle end; (b) a handle connecting the gripping portion with a shovel blade, the shovel blade being on the shovel blade end of the shovel; (c) the shovel blade comprising (i) a generally rectangular shape, (ii) a bottom edge, (iii) a flat surface at the middle portion of the shovel blade, (iv) two sides of the shovel blade, each side having a portion bent at an angle in the middle of each side of about 30 degrees to about 60 degrees from the flat surface of the shovel blade, and each side having a single recess that is capable of catching a wire mesh, each recess being about 1½ inches to about 2½ inches from the bottom edge of the shovel blade, each recess being about ¾ of an inch to about 1¼ of an inch deep, each recess being about ⅜ of an inch to about ⅝ of an inch wide and set at an angle of about 40 degrees to about 50 degrees from the side of the shovel blade, said angle pointed towards the bottom edge of the shovel blade; (d) wherein the shovel blade is capable of catching the wire mesh with at least one recess on one side of the shovel blade and without the use of any protrusions on the shovel blade that could mar the concrete surface or collect concrete or debris; and (e) wherein the length of the shovel is about 50 inches to about 54 inches from the handle end to the shovel blade end.
 2. The concrete transfer shovel of claim 1 wherein the gripping portion is selected from the group consisting of a D shaped grip or a T shaped grip.
 3. A method of pouring wet concrete over a wire mesh, the method comprising: (a) moving the wet concrete into place over the wire mesh in part with a concrete transfer shovel having a length of about 50 inches to about 54 inches, the shovel having a handle end and a shovel blade end, the shovel further comprising a gripping portion on the handle end, a handle connecting the gripping portion with a shovel blade, the shovel blade being on the shovel blade end of the shovel and having (i) a generally rectangular shape, (ii) a bottom edge, (iii) a flat surface at the middle portion of the shovel blade, (iv) two sides of the shovel blade, each side having a portion bent at an angle in the middle of each side of about 30 degrees to about 60 degrees from the flat surface of the shovel blade; (v) wherein the two sides assist in retaining concrete on the shovel blade while it is being used to move the wet concrete; (b) catching, lifting, positioning, and/or pulling the wire mesh with at least one of two recesses, each recess being on a side of the shovel blade, each recess being about 1½ inches to about 2½ inches from the bottom edge of the shovel blade, each recess being about ¾ of an inch to about 1¼ of an inch deep, each recess being about ⅜ of an inch to about ⅝ of an inch wide and set at an angle of about 40 degrees to about 50 degrees from the side of the shovel blade, said angle pointed towards the bottom edge of the shovel blade; and (c) wherein the moving the wet concrete and the catching, lifting, positioning, and/or pulling the wire mesh is done without the shovel blade of the concrete transfer shovel having any protrusions that mar the surface of the concrete or collect concrete or debris.
 4. The method of claim 3 wherein the gripping portion of the shovel is selected from the group consisting of a D shaped grip or a T shaped grip. 